Chinese navy's missile destroyer 'Chongqing' retires

Seen in the picture is the site of the decommissioning ceremony of the guided missile destroyer "Chongqing" warship. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) held a decommissioning ceremony for the guided missile destroyer "Chongqing" (hull number: 133) at a naval port of the East China Sea Fleet on September 26, 2014. (Chinamil.com.cn/Liang Jie)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) held a decommissioning ceremony for the guided missile destroyer "Chongqing" (hull number: 133) at a naval port of the East China Sea Fleet on the morning of September 26, 2014.

The "Chongqing", one of the first-generation missile destroyers made by China, was put into service in December 1983.

In the past 31 years, the "Chongqing" warship has covered a voyage of more than 150,000 sea miles with a total endurance of 15,522 hours.

The destroyer has completed more than 60 major tasks such as combat readiness patrols and military exercises.

In October 1987, the destroyer "Chongqing" reached the waters of the Zengmu Reef, which is the southernmost of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, for patrol.

That was the first time for the PLAN to reach there and claim China's sovereignty over the waters.

In July 2013, the destroyer, at its "advanced age" of 30, went on its last expedition to participate in the joint exercise of the three services organized by the PLA headquarters/departments.

The "Chongqing" warship will be used as the training support facility for the midshipmen of the Logistics College of the Naval University of Engineering, according to sources.